Fact check: Did Taylor Swift share video encouraging fans to vote on Election Day?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A video of Taylor Swift urging young voters to participate in elections recently resurfaced on social media, prompting fans and even some news outlets to believe the message was for the 2024 presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

However, the video, which has gone viral on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, was originally posted in 2018 ahead of the US midterm elections, and has no connection to the 2024 race, as per Daily Mail.

Taylor Swift video in question dates back to November 2018 midterm elections

Taylor Swift’s original video, shared during the November 2018 midterm elections, urged young people to vote and to post photos with the hashtag "#JustVoted." It was her first time endorsing political candidates. 

The pop star, then 28, addressed the importance of voting, saying, "It's not enough to just want to vote. You have to go and make change by voting."

Swift, a Tennessee native, endorsed Phil Bredesen for the Senate and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives. 

The video recently regained attention on social media, particularly among Swift's fans, and even caught the eye of credible media outlets like Newsweek, which initially believed it was a recent post encouraging turnout for the 2024 election.

It reportedly began circulating anew on TikTok after the account @taylor_swift_videos reposted it. The video gathered over 400,000 views in under nine hours and was 

The clip then appeared on X (formerly Twitter) through the account Call To Activism, which has over a million followers and frequently posts content in support of Kamala Harris.

The account’s repost drew considerable traction, amplifying the misconception that Swift was addressing the current election.

Fans shared selfies with 'Just Voted' stickers, hoping to gain the pop star's attention, thinking her message was aimed at the November 5 election. 

In fact, Swift had already taken a stance in the 2024 race, endorsing Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, in an Instagram post right after the September 10 ABC News debate. 

The endorsement highlighted her concern over misinformation and her decision to clarify her political views to counter any confusion among her followers.

Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the 2024 election

In her endorsement for the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket, Taylor Swift expressed admiration for the vice president, calling her a "steady-handed, gifted leader."

She praised Walz for his long-standing advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and women’s autonomy. "I'm voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them," wrote the pop star.

Swift noted that she decided to publicly endorse the Democratic nominee after the former president shared AI-generated images of her endorsing him.

"Recently, I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation," mentioned the 'Karma' hitmaker.  

The 34-year-old further encouraged voters, especially first-time voters, to conduct their own research on the candidates and issues.

"I also want to say, especially to first-time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it's much easier to vote early," noted Swift, linking resources for registration and early voting dates on her Instagram Story.

She concluded her post with a playful nod to Trump's running mate JD Vance's disparaging comments about "childless cat ladies," signing off by writing, "With love and hope, Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady."